James Gunn Confirms He's Directing SUPERMAN: LEGACY for DC Studios
When James Gunn announced that he would be writing the next incarnation of Superman, I think we all knew at some point down the line he would also announce that he’d be directing it as well, and that day has come.
Gunn is officially set to helm Superman: Legacy, which will reboot the franchise again and usher in the new phase of DC film Chapter One: God and Monsters. Gunn shared in a series of tweets:
Yes, I’m directing Superman: Legacy to be released on July 11, 2025. My brother Matt told me when he saw the release date he started to cry. I asked him why. He said, “Dude, it’s Dad’s birthday.” I hadn’t realized.
I lost my Dad almost three years ago. He was my best friend. He didn’t understand me as a kid, but he supported my love of comics and my love of film and I wouldn’t be making this movie now without him.
It has been a long road to this point. I was offered Superman years ago - I initially said no because I didn’t have a way in that felt unique and fun and emotional that gave Superman the dignity he deserved.
Then a bit less than a year ago I saw a way in, in many ways centering around Superman’s heritage - how both his aristocratic Kryptonian parents and his Kansas farmer parents inform who he is and the choices he makes.
So I chose to finally take on writing the script. But I was hesitant to direct, despite the constant pestering by Peter Safran and others to commit (sorry, Peter).
Just because I write something doesn’t mean I feel it in my bones, visually and emotionally, enough to spend over two years directing it, especially not something of this magnitude.
But, the long and the short of it is, I love this script, and I’m incredibly excited as we begin this journey. #UpUpandAway
It was previously revealed that the film’s story focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. It’s explained that “he is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned.”
I am big fan of Gunn’s film work, and I can’t wait to see what he brings to this new Superman movie! Gunn’s screenplay is based on characters from DC. Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. It will fly into theaters on July 11, 2025.